Later British Made Rods

At some point either slightly before or after World War 2 a kind of uniformity seemed to descend on British made rods, indicated by the use of a threaded reel seat, usually with a black aluminium spacer and a small threaded butt button. Similarly a large number of 2 piece nine foot rods seemed to appear, indicating a move away from the convenience of the pre-war "bicycle rod" though this was by no means exclusive as many three-piece rods were also on the market.

Length

10'

Sections

3/1

Material

Tonkin Cane

Maker

Retailer

Forrester's Kirkcaldy

Model

Accessories

Bag

Notes

R0021

Forrester's of Kirkcaldy, retailer. This is a well-appointed three-piece with green wraps and gold intermediates, bridge guides and agate lined stripper and tip guides. The reel seat is of aluminium with a downlocking action.

​Though well made it is not possible to assign this rod to a particular maker. It may even have originated with one of the Redditch manufacturers.

Length

9'

Sections

3/1

Material

Split Cane

Maker

Martin James, Redditch

Retailer

Model

Accessories

Notes

R0039

Another three piece but this time definitely from a Redditch maker. Uplocking reel seat, full intermediates in crimson, the bridge guides are replacements whipped red jasper. The ferrules are also mismatched - this may be accounted for by the short tip section.

Though not in the best condition this rod clearly has a history and is included here in order to introduce another Redditch maker, Martin James. Martin James Snr. seems to have begun trading in the mid part of the nineteenth century, when so many of the Redditch manufacturers began. The company grew under the guidance of his son, also Martin James and manufactured rods which were sold to the trade, often with a retailers branding added.

Length

9'

Sections

2/1

Material

Split Cane

Maker

W Martin James, Redditch

Retailer

Model

Accessories

Bag

Notes

R0019

This rod is completely unmarked but of a pattern common to British made rods, a two piece nine foot fly rod. Bridge guides, aluminium uplocking reel seat and a repair wrap to the tip. Comparing it with the three piece rod above though reveals some striking similarities. Same reel seat, winding check and signature wraps reveal that this is probably another Martin James rod. Elaborate signature wraps like this are relatively unusual on British rods.

Length

9'

Sections

2/1

Material

Split Cane

Maker

Retailer

Model

Accessories

Bag

Notes

R0009

Another nondescript two piece of a similar pattern to the above. It is possible that these were being made as "trade" rods by the bigger Redditch makers, but without more objective information it is hard to say.

The bag that came with this rod appears to be made of military surplus fabric.

There is a small amount of restoration needed on this rod, a repair to the distinctive black and yellow ferrule winding on the top male but if you look closely it shows the ferrules to be serrated, a measure originally patented by Malleson ,one of the late nineteenth century New York makers. You can find more information about rods of this period and origin in the american rods section, though the collection does not yet have an example by Malleson.

Length

9'

Sections

2/1

Material

Split Cane

Maker

Edgar Sealey

Retailer

Model

Octofly

Accessories

Bag

Notes

R0016

This is another example of the nine foot, two piece rod that seems to have been the mainstay of later British cane rod production. With no intermediates and claret whippings, snake guides, a lined tip ring and all aluminum reel seat, this rod cuts a more modern aspect. The bag is interesting too, and is a of a form popular in the period after World War 2.

Edgar and Bernard Sealey were brothers, who established separate hook-making enterprises in Redditch. The "Octopus" brand initially applied to Sealey hooks, but later extended to their rod range. In later years, Sealey marketed a range of reels adapted from J W Young's post war offering.